Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico calls out European hypocrisy over Russia talks

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said European politicians publicly condemn any dialogue with Moscow while privately seeking information from the Kremlin. He made the remarks after a visit to Moscow on 9 May, where he attended the Victory Day celebrations and met President Vladimir Putin.

Fico described the situation as “endless hypocrisy,” urging Europe to restore direct, pragmatic dialogue with Russia on security, energy and the prospects for ending the war in Ukraine. He claimed to have received “important information” from Putin about Russia’s vision for resolving the Ukrainian conflict, which he will relay to his European partners, and warned against creating a new “iron curtain” between the EU and Russia.